Car-cleaning device



Jan 6, 1931.

H. w. SMITH CAR CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1926 Patented Jan. 6, .1931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAEOLD w. SMITH, oF PORT HUEON, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoE .on ONE-HALE To A. c.

BRANDT, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO CAE-CLEANING DEVICE Application led September '18, 1926. Serial No. 136,287.

My invention aims to provide a car or automobile cleaning device that may be shifted about the automobile or readily carried from one position to another so that the device may a vacuum cleaner and obviously may be used for removing dust from the clothes of tourists. My invention further aims to providel an -electrically operated suction cleaning device in the bottom of which is placed a holder or take-up reel for an electric-conductor, so that the device can be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy and conveniently moved from one location to another. The device includes a simple and durable construction that zo can be manufactured ata comparatively small cost so that automobile'servicestations may adopt the device and permit of its use gratuitously. l

The device will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference Will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is an end view of the device, partly broken away and partly in section, and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 3o device. y A

The car cleaning device may be advantageously made of sheet metal nislied tov present a neat appearance and non-corrodible so that it will not be materially aected by Outdoor use. The device is in the form of an ob long casing having a bottom wall 1, end Walls 2 and 3 and side walls 4. The top of the casing is formed by a semi-cylindrical coverv 5 hinged, as at 6, to the upper edge of one of the side walls 4 and the other side wall may be provided with aconventional form of fastener 7 ,so that the cover 5 may be secured in a closed position and the device lifted and carried by a handle 8 on the cover.

The bottom wall 1 of the casing is provided with casters or swiveled wheels 9 so that the device may be readily moved about in addition to being portable.

1n the top of the casing is a horizontal partition or support 10 for an electric motor 11 2 has an opening 26 normally closed and provided with a conventional form of suction fan 12,'said motor'and fan being enclosed by' the cover 5. ADetachably connected to the fan 12 and extending through an end wall of thecover 5 is an intake hose or vflexible con- 55 nection 13 provided with a conventional form of nozzle 14 adapted to be moved over a suri face or in proximity thereto to lift dust or foreign matter from the surface when the suction fan 12 is driven by the motor 11. The 6'() hose 13 may be of considerable length with suitable joints so that the hose may be freely moved about an automobile, and when the hose is not in use it may be hung on or Wrapped about holders 15 on the end wall 3 of the casing.

vThe suction fan 15 has a discharge connection 16 extending through a screen partition 17 into a dust compartment 18 having an in, clined bottom wall 19 some distance above the bottom wall 1 in order to form a reel compartment 2O in the bottom of the casing.

' The screen partition 17 has a large opening 21 over which is placed a detachable screen v22 disposed below the partition for support 10 so as to form an air chamber. 23 communicating with the atmosphere through suitable openings 241 in the side and end walls of the' casing. The screen 22 may be removed 'from the air chamber 23 and cleaned by virtue of a hinged door 25 carried by the end wall 2 of the casing.

The bottom wall 19 of the dust chamber 18 is inclined downwardly from the end wall 3 towards the end wall 2 and said end wall sealed by a hinged upwardly and outwardly swinging door 27 provided with a suitable latch 28 for retaining it in a closed position. Dust and dirt will accumulate against the door 27 and air exhaust from the compartment 18 through the screen 22 into the chamber 23 and out of the openings 24e. 1n the reel compartment 20 are bearings 29 and 30 for a. take-up reel orroller 31 to which is attached-and wound thereon an electrical conductor 32 having its outer end extending at the bottom wall 1 of the casing over a bail 33 and out from the under the' casing so that the free end of said conductor may be attached to a plug or other connecabove said screen, said fan being positioned to discharge upon the higher part of said inclined partition.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

HAROLD W. SMITH.

shown) This is in order that there may be leading-Out conductors 34 to a conventional form of switch 35 and to the motor 11, the switch 35 being supported by the end wall 3 of the casing within the dust compartment 18 and operatable from the outer side of the .wall 3. Obviously the conductors 34 may be incased so as to conveniently extend through the partitions 19, 17 and 10.

With the electric conductor 32 in a suitable electric operating circuit, the cleaning device may be carried or pushed about an automobile and the nozzle 14 used for removing dust and dirt from the automobile into the compartment 18, which may be emptied from time to time. I do not care to conline my invention tothe particular type of fan and motor, but it is important that the various chambers and compartments be compactly arranged within the casing, so that the device may be carried if necessary. I believe I am the first to provide such a cleaning service at an automobile service station so that tourists and others may use the cleaning device whileother service is being performed at the station. hotel entrance will be a convenience to tourists for cleaning luggage and Wearingl apparel before entering a hotel, and while in the drawing I show the device as now constructed and used, yet it is to be understood l casing in providing a that the structural elements are to such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is y 1. A cleaning device comprising a casing, a support mounted in the upper portion thereof, a motor drivenfan on said support, a screen positioned in said casing beneath said support and spaced therefrom to form an air chamber therewith, said casing being ported between the support andscreen, an inlet hose connected to said fan and disposed outside the casing, and an outlet pipe extending from .sald fan through said chamber and opening into the space beneath said screen.

2. A cleaning device comprising a casing, a motor driven suction fan supported in said casing, an lnclined partition in said casing beneath said fan and cooperating with said com toreceive matter from sai" fan, a screen in said compartment and above said partition, said casmg havlng air outlet ports 'formed Such a device at a susceptible artment adapted 

